Let Them Drink Juice

04/29/2020 05:00PM
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By Jacqueline Gonzalez

By: Jaqueline Gonzalez Photos by: Rachel Benavides

If you haven’t tried the Vine Juice Co.’s delicious selection of juices yet, you’ll want to stop by this hidden gem to pick up a quick and healthy snack. The Vine Juice Co. is one of only a few venues in Corpus Christi that offer raw, natural cold-pressed juices and smoothies, perfect for kick-starting healthier eating habits.

Lisa Sutter and Suzanna Sudder, owners of the Vine Juice Co., explained that their juices have a massive amount of nutrients that enter the blood stream, giving the body a break from digesting solids. Although many people use home juicers, Sutter said that the process used is much harsher and the heat used breaks down the nutrients, while the cold-pressed juicer stays cold the entire time as it extracts the pulp, making their juices as smooth as water, while retaining all the nutrients.

The 5 main juices – Pearfection, Carrot Top, The Garden, Romaine Calm, and Heart Beet – each contain 3-5 pounds of raw fruits and veggies with zero additives in a 14 oz. container. Each juice has its own unique palate-satisfying combination of carrots, oranges, apples, turmeric, kale, celery, lemon, ginger, and cucumber, just to name a few. These unique recipes don’t sacrifice flavor and are the easiest way to get the recommended daily servings of fruits and veggies. The Vine Juice Co. also carries juice cleanses, which are a great way to gently eliminate toxins and reset your digestive system.

Sutter and Sudder are proud local business supporters, and source their produce from local farmers as much as possible. “The beautiful produce that grows locally is insane, and we like to educate the community about local farmers and encourage them onto this local food movement,” says Sutter. “When you support us, you support local farmers, as well.”

Their new location, off South Alameda in the Meadowbrook shopping center, has a much larger storefront, and according to Sudder, “is what we wanted from the get-go.” She explained they were on the lookout for a space where they could support the community, provide a spot for their local vendor friends to showcase and sell their products, and host wellness meetings. Local artists hang their art in the shop, while other local businesses sell their products. “We wanted to give a space for local vendors who don’t have a brick and mortar to be able to use it as a pop-up,” says Sutter, and every Saturday, they hold a pop-up for local businesses.

When they first opened the shop, they were hoping to help people change their eating habits – but at that moment, they were unaware of what that would look like. Now, they have repeat customers who have become like family, and are seeing significant changes in their lifestyles.

As we navigate through unusual times with the social distancing requirements due to COVID-19, Sutter and Sudder are doing everything in their power to make sure their customers are taken care of.

Luckily, the safety requirements called for measures to be taken that were already on their to-do list, including converting their Southside location into a drive-thru only, and offering curbside service at their new location for the ease of the customer.

Regardless of the uncharted waters the Coastal Bend, and the world, are navigating, Sutter and Sudder are still planning for the future – to continue changing the lives of the customers with whom they’ve built relationships. They’re looking to become a certified vegan shop, offering 100 percent vegan options, and continuing to support their local community.

Writer Recs:

Pearfection is perfect for the beginner juicer, or for someone who is looking for a healthy option for an afternoon sweet.

Benefits of pear juice: Pears contain high levels of antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin K, and copper – which counter the effects of free radicals, protecting cells from the damage they can cause.